Personnel Expenses and Employee Numbers

Personnel expenses for continuing operationsContinuing operationsSales and earnings reporting for continuing operations pertains only to business operations that are expected to remain in the company’s portfolio for the foreseeable future; opposite of discontinued operations. rose in 2017 by €69 million to €9,528 million (2016: €9,459 million). The change was mainly due to higher expenses in connection with compensation adjustments, which were partially offset by lower employee bonuses.

The personnel expenses shown here do not contain the interest portion of the allocation to personnel-related provisions – mainly for pensions and other post-employment benefits – which is included in the financial result under other financial expenses (Note “Financial Result”).

The average numbers of employees, classified by corporate function, were as shown in the table below:

The number of employees on either permanent or temporary contracts is stated in full-time equivalents (FTE), with part-time employees included on a pro-rated basis in line with their contractual working hours. The figures do not include apprentices.